If he was on an NFL team instead of at South Carolina wouldn't he get better medical and rehab treatment? I'm not sure if thats the case but I always assumed it was, so if i were him I might consider leaving for the NFL just because I would be getting the best treatment possible.

Hopefully, he should be done with surgery before April and an NFL team doesn't need to sign him until July or so anyway. The difference in physical therapy he would receive from the NFL and an SEC school shouldn't be significant (especially since he's rehabbed a major knee injury before.)

Hopefully, he should be done with surgery before April and an NFL team doesn't need to sign him until July or so anyway. The difference in physical therapy he would receive from the NFL and an SEC school shouldn't be significant (especially since he's rehabbed a major knee injury before.)

I'm sure they would prefer to monitor it. I'd rather him rehab all next year, monitor him, and get him away from physical pounding. Going back to school IMO would only result in him rehabbing a majority of next season, then rushing back too soon to show people he's "back". I don't see the point in going back to school for 2 more years either, someone will pick him up in the mid rounds either way.

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Quote:

Originally Posted by Scott Wright

I guarantee that if someone picks Cam Newton in the Top 5 they will regret it.

If McGahee still got drafted in the first round with the Bills knowing full well he likely wouldn't play that season, I think Lattimore still gets taken if not the first round, the second. There are plenty of teams willing to take chances on a potential pro-bowler. As a Jets fan, if we have a mid-1st or even if we are early and trade back and take Lattimore, I'd be happy with the risk. How many 1st round RBs get injured or bust with a healthy collegiate record?

Guys like Lattimore are very rare and well worth the risk, if he decides to enter the draft I'd be absolutely shocked if he is still there in the third round. If he didn't get injured last year or this year there'd be serious debate about him getting taken with the #1 overall pick (considering how the QBs in the class have been lackluster at best).

I don't see it. He had clearly lost something after his first knee injury (this coming from a guy that thought he was All-World). After a devastating second injury who knows what he has left?

I could see a good team with a compensatory pick at the end of the 3rd snatching him up. Especially if they already have a good runningback situation. Seems like a Patriot-type of move waiting to happen.

I don't see it. He had clearly lost something after his first knee injury (this coming from a guy that thought he was All-World). After a devastating second injury who knows what he has left?

I'd take a flyer on him in the 5th. Nothing more.

I agree that he is probably a guy I let some other team reach and take a risk on, but he clearly wasn't fully healthy this year. His injuries are a huge risk, but if he wouldn't have hurried back so quickly I bet he wouldn't have looked as bad this year.

Michael Bush was taken at the beginning of the 4th round after a devastating leg injury. This was a bone and not knee ligaments--and this was after a standout junior season that had Bush looking like a top 10 pick. If Lattimore has to miss an entire season, I don't see him getting picked until 3rd round at best.

Even with that said, I think it's probably a better choice to declare now than wait it out when a running back's best quality is his youth.

A 1st round pick is crazy and isn't happening, but mid rounder for sure. A team is going to exercise patience and caution with him his entire rookie year and he probably won't take a hit next year at all. By 2014 with plenty of rehab and not rushing him he can still be a very good back. Sure, he may not be all world talent anymore, but what is his floor? Shonn Greene? Just because he's not an elite prospect anymore doesn't mean he won't get any interest.

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Quote:

Originally Posted by Scott Wright

I guarantee that if someone picks Cam Newton in the Top 5 they will regret it.

Obviously not a doctor and medical checks will play a HUGE role in his stock, but I would probably say Rounds 3-5 for Lattimore if he does indeed come out this year. Keep in mind there seems to be a pretty good chance the guy won't even be able to play at all next season.

Obviously not a doctor and medical checks will play a HUGE role in his stock, but I would probably say Rounds 3-5 for Lattimore if he does indeed come out this year. Keep in mind there seems to be a pretty good chance the guy won't even be able to play at all next season.

Time to bump this. He's entering the draft... according to sources. Will definitely be one of the top story lines of the draft.

Willis McGahee was a special talent, had his knee torn apart and went in the 1st round.

Frank Gore was a pretty darn good prospect but had numerous injuries, went in the high 3rd round.

Is there any doubt that a team like the Packers, Texans, Steelers, Broncos, etc could take a midround shot? I think it is likely they could.

I would love for the Packers to take him with a midround pick but as I was driving into work this morning listening to the radio I started thinking about how crazy good Lattimore could be behind the line the Steelers are trying to build.

I would love for the Packers to take him with a midround pick but as I was driving into work this morning listening to the radio I started thinking about how crazy good Lattimore could be behind the line the Steelers are trying to build.

I'd be all for it, but I think the Steelers would go in a different RB direction due to:

1. RB being a very immediate need

2. The Super Bowl window is closing for this team hard with the punishment Ben has been taking and his age

Could the injury actually be beneficial? I don't really know what causes a running back to break down later in their career, but if he isn't playing football for a year or two, it might mean he has a longer career?

Also, if I were a team like the Packers, I would draft him and store him on IR a season or two. He was a top 15 talent before the injury.

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I was gone for 2 months doing things I can't talk about. It might happen again, but that's just the nature of what I do and who I am.

I'd be all for it, but I think the Steelers would go in a different RB direction due to:

1. RB being a very immediate need

2. The Super Bowl window is closing for this team hard with the punishment Ben has been taking and his age

I was just thinking it because they were talking about about if Dywer can be the guy in Pitt and I just immediately thought of Lattimore seeing as they have a similar run style but obviously Lattimore is the better prospect and with Mendenhall surely being gone it would make sense... in a vacuum of course.

Willis McGahee was a special talent, had his knee torn apart and went in the 1st round.

Frank Gore was a pretty darn good prospect but had numerous injuries, went in the high 3rd round.

Is there any doubt that a team like the Packers, Texans, Steelers, Broncos, etc could take a midround shot? I think it is likely they could.

The McGahee thing was a fluke. Great job by his agent.

Lattimore clearly wasn't the same player after the first injury. I had him as a 2nd-3rd rounder BEFORE the second injury. Now? Why even bother when there will be guys just as good as him (what he is now) available that are healthy?

Lattimore clearly wasn't the same player after the first injury. I had him as a 2nd-3rd rounder BEFORE the second injury. Now? Why even bother when there will be guys just as good as him (what he is now) available that are healthy?

That's kind of where i'm at. I wish the kid all the luck in the world in his comback but i can't see a team spending anything higher than a 5th or at least the cutoff point where you can still get good NFL starters.

Lattimore clearly wasn't the same player after the first injury. I had him as a 2nd-3rd rounder BEFORE the second injury. Now? Why even bother when there will be guys just as good as him (what he is now) available that are healthy?

Quote:

Originally Posted by Babylon

That's kind of where i'm at. I wish the kid all the luck in the world in his comback but i can't see a team spending anything higher than a 5th or at least the cutoff point where you can still get good NFL starters.

This exactly where I'm at, too. This is Lattimore's other knee. I'd bring him into camp with a late-round pick, but running backs with bad knees scare me. Frank Gore is the exception to the rule.

Yeah, if I'm a really good team without many needs, I'm taking him in the late 5th (playoff team), possibly 4th if I'm really set at most positions. The Packers come to mind first. The Steelers and Patriots do also, but both teams have some age and free agents they will need to replace.

I don't think you hope to get the former top 15 guy back, but he could be a good part of a platoon backfield in a couple years.